FACTORS INFLUENCING RURAL WOMEN’S DECISION TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGES IN AMBO DISTRICT, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

In recent years, environment has become a key issue in Ethiopia. The main environmental problem in Ethiopia include land degradation, soil erosion, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, desertification, flood, recurrent drought, and water and air pollution. This could be due to limited engagement of women in environmental and adaptation issues, and lack of local knowledge. A better understanding of the local dimensions of adaptation is therefore essential to develop appropriate adaptation measures that can mitigate these adverse consequences. The main aim of this study was to assess women’s perception on impact of climate change, to identify climate change adaptation options practiced by women at the district and to analyze determinants of climate change adaptation options. Both primary and secondary data sources were used for the study. Primary data were collected from a randomly selected 156 sample households through interview. Relevant secondary data were also obtained from the concerned offices, sources (books, articles etc), internet, reports and manuals in Ambo district agriculture office. Descriptive statistics were used to provide insights into women’s perception of climate change and types of adaptation strategies to climate change. The result from descriptive statistics show that 22% and 78% of women from female headed and male headed perceived, as there is a change in climate respectively. Multivariate probit model was estimated to identify the factors influencing households’ use of adaptation options to climate change. The result of multivariate probit model shows that the likelihood of households to adopt water conservation, Changing planting date, planting different crop varieties, planting trees and terracing practices were 69.6%, 85%, 67.4%, 56.1% and 40.5%, respectively. The result also shows that the joint probability of using all adaptation strategies was only 0.23% and the joint probability of failure to adopt all of the adaptation strategies was 12%. Multivariate probit model results also confirm that extension service, income of household, market distance, social norms, training and access to credit have a statistically positive as well as negative significant influence on climate adaptation options. Extension service, market distance and income are resulted in positive at the area while absence of access to credit and training are negatively associated with the dependent variable. The study concluded women farmers with better access to extension, income and market have better tendency to consider climate adaptation options. It is also concluded that absence of credit service and training are the major constraints to undertake adaptation options. Therefore, future policy should focus on the provision of access to credit, training and extension services on crop and livestock production, and information on climate and adaptation options are necessary to better cope with climate change.